towerofanimus | don't leave me here like this, can't hear me scream from the abyss;

Characters: Naoya and whomever stumbles across him. (Aside from floor 13 which is closed to close CR only.)
Setting: Floor 101 (the hanging gardens), floor 64 (the desert), floor 13 (the cathedral). Backdated slightly to before the event.
Format: Either.
Summary: Naoya is... upset, over various things. He's trying to calm himself down, but it doesn't go that well.
Warnings: Severe rage. If you catch him badly he might attack you or simply go silent. Also, only close CR should tag him on floor 13. If you don't know if your character counts, please ask me first or just PM me.

[Floor 101]

[This floor. He hates this floor. It just reminds him of what he lost, what was stripped away, what he can never, ever have anymore. It's almost as if the plants here are taunting him for what he did. It hurts.]

[Naoya doesn't spend too long on this floor, just enough to check to see that the plants are still flourishing. He turns to leave.]

[Floor 64]

[This floor is much more agreeable for him. It reminds him of home - his first home - and while it hurts, it's comforting. He doesn't venture too far from the staircase - he knows better than to step into the desert without better tools - and sits in the sand, closing his eyes briefly and trying to remember how things were at first, before everything.]

[Then other memories cut in, of violence and blood and pain. He opens his eyes, and stands, brushing sand off of his clothes. It's time to keep moving, or he'll just remember more.]

[Floor 13 - CLOSED TO CLOSE CR]

[He hates this floor most of all. He heads to the front, shutting up the mumbling, and stares at the stained glass. This thing... all of this. Everything.]

[He punches the podium, but doesn't succeed in doing anything but hurting his hand. Still, he pounds at it, trying to get someone, anyone to listen. Even if it's not Him... some kind of higher power. Something.]

[Why does it not matter to anyone that while yes, he was the murderer, he was also a victim? Why does he have to be the example? Why did Abel have to be thrown into the demon world and then shattered? Even the Abels he's met haven't ever been the complete Abel. He misses him. He misses his brother, he misses being able to think and not be overwhelmed by this damn curse. He misses being able to just live. And He wants him to repent? It's all His fault! He was the one who stoked the desire to kill in him to have his precious example!]

[He cries out, making another attempt to shove over the podium, but it's useless. He falls to the ground, on his knees and elbows, hair draping down around his face. He can feel himself crying and he doesn't even bother to stop it.]

[No. It doesn't matter anymore. He wants to hold out hope, but it's so difficult when everything keeps going wrong. He was betrayed by his own brother, and yet he still loves him... but he can't think of any other way.]

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[She should be more surprised to find him here, but given that he'd tracked her down there, she isn't. What is a surprise, however, is that he's obviously having a breakdown. It strikes fear into her heart, and without so much as thinking, she rushes over and pulls Naoya into a loose hug.

She's not going to ask what's wrong. Not until he's not so obviously broken, not unless it's obvious he wants to talk - but she will stay there until she gets chased off.

That's what you do, after all.]

[Naoya stiffens, trying to still his crying, but it's no use. It hurts, and he needs to just let some of the pain out. He can barely breathe from the tears and the pressure and the pain, but he rocks back and forth in Asako's arms.]

... hurts...

[Days of being nearly crippled in bed due to headaches, nights of terror and pain... he just wants it to stop. He just wants to be able to die and not wake up again.]

[This is familiar. This is what must be done, what needs to be done. She may have been hospitalized more often, but her mind was more sound. Her torment was less, and so this was how things were.]

Shh. I'm here.

[It's all she can say, all that can be done, some hint of you're not alone. Even if it is only for now.]

[He reaches up and curls a hand in her shirt, trying to breathe. He knows she's here, but it's not the same. She's Abel, part of him, but she's not him.]

... shouldn't see me like this. Supposed to be the one who takes care of you.

It's okay. It's okay.

[She knows that, and it burns to know that. She is a person too - but she is a fragment, too. It's why she's been so unstable lately.

How can a fragment be stable on its own?

-- but now isn't the time for such thoughts. Now, she just needs to be there for her cousin.]

It's not.

[He forces the tears to stop, though it's hard. It takes time. It's a matter of sheer will. He wipes his face, sitting back a bit.]

... Heh. You must think I'm pretty pathetic, crying on the floor like this. In this place. I guess I am. I know I haven't been the best brother at times. ... Most times.

[He's quiet for a few moments, trying to find the right words.]

I never wanted to involve you in this. I was content to let you just be. You were never to know. But the time was right. And you got caught up in it. You were robbed of your chance to be your own person. I know you'll say you don't mind. You've always been like that. But I know you mind. And it matters that you can't just be you. So.

... I'm sorry.

[The corner of his mouth twitches slightly.]

If I could go back and prevent you from being involved, I would. Even if you've got part of Abel, you're still my precious little sister, whether or not you have a part of him.

But you do. And I didn't decide that. And you were convenient. You were used, yes. But I believed in you. I knew you would be okay. Even if you're not the same as the... you in my world... I'm pretty sure the me in your world would say the same thing, if you got him to admit it.

I... I don't understand why you won't hate me, for everything I did to you. Maybe you do, even if you don't want to admit it. That's fine. I deserve it. Not even for what I did back then, but for what I did to you now. You, Asako. Not Abel.

... There's no way I can ever explain this right, even over thousands of lifetimes. But... for what it's worth, I'm sorry I put you through this. I'm not sorry for what I planned, and I still want to kill Him. But this isn't fair to you. I know it. It's what I need to do to get this done, but you had no say. ... And that's not fair.

[She's quiet, just letting him rant for a while. He heard her out when she was at her lowest, after all-

But her determination is just the same. I am part of Abel, part of Bel. I should return to the source. A fragment cannot exist on its own. ... Not that she'll speak a word of it to Naoya, of course. He's got his own burdens, he's upset enough as it is.

But maybe he'll be happy when I do what I need to do.]

Naoya...I don't think you're pathetic. You're human. Humans get upset, they break down, they do stupid things. Remember, I was kind of like that a little while ago? The term is "turnabout is fair play," I think. ....Either way, you're not pathetic.

[No, pathetic is septic and hospitals and living a false life.]

As for that whole hate thing you seem so keen on...look, I did mention I could see the future back home, right? I saw in advance that your plan would cause the least damage to the world of humans. That's why I don't hate you - because I was already going to go that route.

You see?

Still...

[He hunches his shoulders, appearing suddenly small in his clothing. He's so tired. He doesn't know what to do. He's human, yes, but he's not typical.]

don't leave me here like this, can't hear me scream from the abyss;

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